Benjamin h



B. E. KLEIN.

WIND WHEEL.

Patented Mar. 28, 1882.

` N. PETERSv Phone-Luncgmphr, wamingmn, D4 C.

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN H. KLEIN, OF DELAWARE, OHIO.

WIND-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,432, dated March28, 1882.

yApplication iiled February 16, 1881. (Model.)

. lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wind-wheels in which the sailsare pivoted to the inner and outer rims, so that when struck by aviolent wind said sails will swing upon their pivots and present theiredges to the wind.

The object of my invention is to provide means for relieving the -pivotof the sails from strain, to prevent the sails from oscillating toofreely when swung around, as well as to stay them when swung in thewind, and to afford means f'or simultaneously swinging such sails into asubsiding violent Wind. I attain these objects by devices illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a detail frontelevation ofa wind-wheel embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a similarelevation of the same in its operative position with the sails edge toandout of the wind; and Fig. 3, a side elevation of a wind-wheelembodying my invention and`sh0w' ing its connection with tower andtail-vane; Fig'. 4, a detail showing the manner of pivoting the sail tothe inner and outer rims and auxiliary rims, and also the location ofone of the springs used to automatically swing the sails upon theirpivots into a decreasing wind;

Fig. 5, a detached section, showing the stationary and auxiliary rims,one of the sails, and the manner of pivoting and automatically operatingsame by means of the .springf Similar letters of reference indicate thesame parts in the several gures of the drawings.

A represents the cap ot' a windmill-tower supporting a bracket,a,tailvane B, and forming a bearing for the crank-shaft C, carrying uponits outer end the hub c and operating the vertical shaft c', all of saidparts being of the usual construction. Hub c carries the usual number ofspokes d, which support the inner and outer rims, ce', respectively,between which sails F, having angular or turned-up inner edges, f, arepivoted, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, by rods g, securedtothe their bearings in auxiliary' inner and outer rims,t' t',respectively, which have no other 6o support, except said rods or theends of the sails, as the case may be.

By pivoting the sails as above described I have provided an expansiblerimpaording a firm supportand stay for the sails, without in- 6 5terfering with their free pivotal movement, and at the same time servingto prevent the sails from oscillating upon their pivots, and, moreover,staying them against collapsing when struck by a violent and sudden gustof 7o wind. By an expansible rim77 I mean a rim having the function of.spreading itself apart laterally when the sailsyswing out of the wind.

In order to cause the sails to automatically swing into the wind, one ormore coil-springs, k, are secured upon the spokes of the wheel andprovided with a straight arm, k', engaging with the ends l of thepivot-rods h, projecting upon the inside of the inner rim, fi, or withstuds upon the inner side of said rim, so as to 8o press theauxiliaryrims'toward the rims proper, and thus swing the sails upon their pivots.

It is obvious, however, that any other farm of spring adapted for thispurpose might be used without departing from the spirit of myinvention-as, for instance, a contracting spiral spring connected ateach end to the rims. y

For the successful operation of a wind-wheel it is necessary that itshould not at all times come to or remain at a standstill when sub- 9ojected to the pressure of a violent wind, and to obviate such anobjection I have provided the sails with the angular edges f, for itwill be understood that even though the outer edges of the sails beturned direct toward the wind these flanges will be always slightly inthe wind, and hence the wind-wheel be kept in motion. Furthermore, byhaving such angular flanges the sails will hold more wind when full orat au obligue angle to the wind than if their Ioo faces were perfectlyplain.

It will be seen that by having double rims which operate to stay thesails, as before dcscribed, the strain upon the sails is distributed iusuch a manner that I may make the rims so light that their combinedweight may be much less than when a single or solid double rim isemployed-that is, a rim ofextra Width, now in use-and therebyI can havea lighter wheel of the same strength and durability.

Haviu g thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a wind-wheel, the combination, with pivoted sails and with theordinary wheelrims, of an auxiliary inner and outer rim supported bysaid sails, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a wind-wheel7 the combination, with the ordinary Wheel-rims andwith the pivoted sails, ofthe auxiliary Outer rim and inner rim,

with the springs for operating said auxiliary rims to automaticallyswing the sails into the Wind.

3. The combination, withthe stationary inner rim and outer rim, and withthe movable inner rim and outer rim, of a series of sails provided withangular flanges and pivoted to said stationary and movable rims.

4. In a wind-Wheel, the combination, with the hub, the spokes, thestationary inner rim, and outer rim secured to said spokes, of themovable rims 'i and i', the sails F, pivoted as shown, and a springconnecting the spokes with the pivot 7L or with the rim z'.

BENJAMIN H. KLEIN.

Witnesses:

HENRY G. SHELDoN, HENRY J. EATON.

